Chapter 2 - Shadows Across the Skyline
Mason returned within minutes, moving with the practiced, silent efficiency of a man who lived in the crosshairs. He placed a heavy metal first-aid case on the bedside table next to the lamp, keeping his bruised face impassive. Without a word, he backed away toward the door, leaving Gabriel and me alone in the sun-drenched expanse of the bedroom.
"Sit up," Gabriel commanded gently, stepping closer to the mattress. He reached out, his long fingers surprisingly steady as he lifted the latch of the metal case. "I know it hurts. But if we don't clean those cuts, infection will finish what the ambush started."
I didn't argue. The throbbing in my ribs made every breath a calculated risk, and fighting Gabriel on basic maintenance was a waste of scarce energy. I eased myself up against the white pillows, shifting Eli slightly so he remained undisturbed against my arm. Gabriel soaked a square of gauze in saline, his dark eyes focused entirely on the task. When he pressed the cool fabric to the jagged cut along my jawline, a sharp hiss escaped my teeth before I could swallow it.
"Sorry," he muttered, his thumb brushing lightly against my uninjured skin. The touch was fleeting, almost accidental, yet it sent an unexpected jolt through my exhausted nervous system. "You took a heavy hit here. Was it the driver?"
"No," I said, staring past his shoulder at the skyline outside. "The driver went down when the second vehicle pit-maneuvered us. It was the front-seat passenger in the third car. He had a tactical knife and a federal-issue drop holster. Professional, but sloppy under pressure."
Gabriel's movements paused. A cold, lethal stillness settled over his frame. "Federal issue. That narrows our list of corporate leaks down to three people with Department of Justice clearance."
"Make sure your list is accurate," I warned, wincing as he applied antiseptic to my knuckles. "Because the team that hit us knew the exact timing of our convoy shift. They didn't stumble on us by accident. Someone inside your foundation sold the route."
"I'll find out who," Gabriel said, his voice devoid of warmth. He finished cleaning the last scratch on my forehead and tossed the stained gauze into a metal tray. He sat down on the edge of the mattress, the springs groaning faintly under his weight. For the first time, I noticed the faint dark circles beneath his eyes. He hadn't slept either, driven by the terror of losing his only remaining blood relative. "You should rest. Mason and I have secure comms set up on the perimeter. No one gets past the lobby without triggering a silent alarm."
"Locks and alarms don't stop a determined leak," I murmured, my eyelids growing heavier as the antiseptic began to dull the sharp edge of the pain. "They just buy us time."
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"Time is all I need," Gabriel replied softly.
He stayed seated on the edge of the bed long after my eyes drifted shut, his presence anchoring me against the rising tide of nightmares waiting in the dark. I felt the steady rise and fall of Eli's chest against mine, and for the first time since the ambush on the highway, the tight knot of panic in my chest loosened just a fraction.
